“The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day; the father shall make known Your truth to the children.” Isaiah 38:19 Text: A Prayer spoken by Hezekiah, king of Judah, following his recovery from illness Expresses the joy of a heart overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s healing.  Part of that gratitude involved a desire to share the message with others, especially his children.  It’s a noble sentiment.  But there is another side to this story that is not recorded here. Hezekiah was a good man, but his son, Manasseh, who succeeded him on the throne, was the most wicked king Judah had ever known.  His crimes “filled Jerusalem from one end to the other” with innocent blood.  Under his leadership, Judah became more evil than the pagan nations whom they had displaced.  How could such a god-fearing man like Hezekiah create such a monster like Manasseh? (No way of knowing for sure) Perhaps Hezekiah was too busy administering his kingdom to spend time with his son.  Maybe Manasseh chose his evil path despite diligent training from his father.  Either way, it is ironic that a father who so eloquently expressed a father’s duty to his children, failed so painfully in his own family.  Whatever the details, Hezekiah’s words provide good advice for fathers today.  Fathers must be leaders, for children to be successful spiritually. Want to list a few practical steps for fathers to take to impart God’s truth to their children. (Note: Lesson based on an article titled: A Father’s Duty to His Children, by David King)

The Father’s Duty He must establish the family habit of going to assembly regularly to worship God and study His word. Ephesians 6:4 Hebrews 10:24-25 cf. 2 Timothy 1:3-5 (Ephesians 6:4), “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Note: It is the father’s responsibility to train his children (Hebrews 10:24-25), “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Note: Attendance to worship is helpful in edification (2 Timothy 1:3-5), “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Timothy a good example. His faith was in part an extension of his mother’s and grandmother’s The teaching that children are exposed to in Bible classes and worship are valuable, But of greater value is the implicit message in this habit that devotion to God is vital to their lives and their souls.

The Father’s Duty He must weave Biblical (God’s) truth into the fabric of everyday life at home. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (Deuteronomy 6:6-9), “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Dads should take advantage of opportunities to link decisions and problems encountered in the home to principles taught in God’s word.  This does not require lecturing the kids, but providing gentle reminders of how Biblical lessons can help solve practical problems of life.  This is essential to help kids see the usefulness of God’s truth in their own lives.

The Father’s Duty (Exodus 13:11-16) READ He must demonstrate the role of divine truth in his own life, to serve as an example to his children. cf. Law of the Firstborn Exodus 13:11-16 (Exodus 13:11-16) READ Children will see what you are doing, and ask why! Wonderful opportunities to teach them, and to indicate the importance of God’s will in your own life! Nothing will impress a child with the power of God’s word more than seeing it lived out in the example of his father.  Even when a father makes a mistake, if he follows God’s prescription for dealing with it, a child will gain respect for his dad, and for the source of wisdom that guides him. If fathers diligently follow these steps, they will have more influence on their children than they may realize.  The Bible tells us that near the end of his long life, Manasseh repented of his evil and turned to God.  Hezekiah did not live to see it, but in the end, perhaps the truth he taught his son was not wasted after all.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 Conclusion: The context of Matthew 18:6 shows it is referring to those who “become as little children” Purity in spirit, humility and guilelessness. Born again in faith… Note: The illustration is poignant BECAUSE of the value, and the vulnerability of the small child…. Raise your children well! There is nothing more important you can do! God will hold you accountable!